Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Bad Karma · 02-24-2006, 10:54 AM

I did yesterday, scared the bejeebus out of me... I was driving along, someone cut me off, I moved over a lane and punched it. What followed was the most horrible sound I have ever heard, sounded like silverware hitting the floor (only worse)...

I slowed back down and pulled onto a side street. The truck was vibrating pretty bad, but all the gauges read normal, so I drove it back home, not wanting to shift out of drive or shut it off because I didn't know what broke.

Got home and after crawling under and inside everything I finally found a missing fan blade. It grazed the radiator a little (no major damage) and then blew out the bottom of the fan shroud on the way out. Put on a new fan and fan clutch and all is well again (still need to order a shroud, though).

It is amazing how a missing blade can throw off the balance in such a huge way.

1Ton · 02-24-2006, 11:04 AM

You got lucky usually they take out the radiator. Glad to hear your back on the road.

Bad Karma · 02-24-2006, 11:20 AM

Thanks, I felt very lucky after I saw what happened. The radiator has 2 small depressions in the fins, each about the size of a fingertip. Looks like the blade just nicked it and then shot out the bottom. No leaks so far, but I'm keeping an eye on it...

Turbo85GMC · 02-24-2006, 11:25 AM

At least it went out through the bottom and not out through your hood!

Todd65 · 02-24-2006, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbo85GMC

At least it went out through the bottom and not out through your hood!

No kidding. there's about 270 degrees of rotation where that could have been very, very bad.

**swervin ervin** · 02-24-2006, 12:19 PM

Yes, you are very lucky it didn't rip a hole in your hood. With my luck, it would have shot straight up, after tearing up the shroud and radiator.

One more reason I love my electric fans.

87 STEPPER · 02-24-2006, 01:15 PM

In the early 80's im riddin' with my buddy in his 70.5 LT1 Z28 and he nails it at a stop light and after it hit second gear we heard the same horrible sound you did we both looked at each other and said HOLY$H!T What the Hell was that and then i saw something protruding through the hood we pulled over and saw a fan blade stuck in his hood we then opened the hood and it thru two blades the other one went thru the rad.

We limped it to the next service station and removed the fan from the water pump and the hood we left the blade in the rad cuz it would of leaked worse if we removed it we filled it up and limped it back home about 20 miles stoping at several more service stations for H2O.

That's why i'll never run a flex fan!!
Sounds like a good reason not to run a stock fan as well!
Electric is the only way to go.

86 GMG · 02-24-2006, 01:35 PM

Man I Was Laughing My Ass Off During Reading This B/c I Did It To A 90 Model But It Was My Fault Sence Then About Four Of Five Years Ago I Have Learned That A Fan While Not Be Ok With Just To Bolts In It (they Were Adjasint From One Another) Thought Wrong Luckily When I Pulled In The Driveway At Home A Buddy Next Store Was Out And I Reved The Engine Up At Him Thats When It Slung Off The Pump And Put A Huge Outwerd Dent In My Hood. So Glad To Here Your Experience Went As Smooth As Mine Did And Like You Said Keep An Eye On That Rad. For A While.

Leinie · 02-24-2006, 01:53 PM

I removed the water pump from my truck -switched engines and then put the water pump on the new motor.
In the process I removed the fan mounting bolts but it was siezed to the pump shaft. When I reinstalled it I forgot the bolts were still out.
I'm just glad it stayed on until the test drive and didn't fly off during tuning!!

Tore up the radiator real bad and I saw the pulley rolling into the ditch but never found it

Jebb1978 · 02-24-2006, 02:06 PM

I loaned my truck to my buddy right after I put the rebuilt engine in it. New Radiator and a New Fan. Installed the fan backwards! It came apart and took out the Belts, Lower Radiator Hose, Fan Shroud and Radiator. All new parts with exception of the Shroud. Better yet I had to drive 30 miles to do a roadside repair to get him moble again. Boy did I feel like a shmuck!!!

bigblock73 · 02-24-2006, 02:30 PM

I was riding with a buddy of mine once, were were in a late 80's Dakota. Cruisin down the highway we both caught a glimpse of something fly up from the front area of the truck. Since neither of us actually saw what it was, and since the truck still ran normal...we kept on driving and kind of blew it off. Once we got to his place, we got out of the truck and walked to the front to see if we perhaps hit something...everything looked normal. That was until we saw a 1" x 8" (or so, never measured it...but it was a perfect rectangle) slit in the front of the hood. To this day I wonder how high that fan flew up in the air!!

SSC's76 · 02-24-2006, 03:10 PM

I never had the pleasure of it happening to me, probably wont happen in the future since I'm all electric on my rides. It did happen to my friends 72 Chevell, then to his 72 Nova two weeks later.

Bad Karma · 02-24-2006, 04:14 PM

Wow, great stories! I feel even luckier now than I did before.

Just ordered a new shroud from Chevy Duty (only $20, 30 bucks cheaper than LMC!!!), she'll be back in one piece soon.

hotrodhomi · 02-24-2006, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Turbo85GMC

At least it went out through the bottom and not out through your hood!

you took the words right out of my mouth

LOHRTBT · 02-24-2006, 05:20 PM

lol...saw it happen to my buddies S10...blew 3 holes in the hood, destroyed the shroud, cut all the belts, cut the rad hose and destroyed his radiator!! It did more damage than the truck was worth!

OJ1988 · 02-24-2006, 05:50 PM

My cousin lost one blade off his flex fan. About that time, I read in a magazine that they had recalled 2 models of them, and his was one.

nwmod39 · 02-24-2006, 06:40 PM

I have a buddy that was working on the timing in his circle track car and had the fan come apart. it took the whole index finger and the top knuckle to the tip on his middle finger. i would always flip him **** about it until i was doing the same thing when the whole fan came off the pump. the only thing that save my but was the tin fan shroud that i had used. stuck the blade right through it and stopped while i was leaning down toward the marks with my left hand and head while revving it with my right hand.
talk about something that really gets you heart going. i think it was well over a half an hour before i calmed down.

79BIG10 · 02-24-2006, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by swervin ervin

Yes, you are very lucky it didn't rip a hole in your hood. With my luck, it would have shot straight up, after tearing up the shroud and radiator.

One more reason I love my electric fans.

Same here. I've seen pics of it not being so lucky.

Bowed · 02-24-2006, 11:22 PM

When I was a kid the guy I was working for sent me on an errand in his friends 57 chevy stepside . It was a straight 6 banger with stick shift and Well you know how kid's are . I had it in second gear and screaming right up to the top when the fan sheared off and went thru the radiator . The owner was pi$$ed .
.

.

MACO · 02-25-2006, 12:00 AM

The day I brought my 71 c20 home the first thing the fan decided to do was come apart and punch a hole in the hood. It was one of those original GM flex fans that are so dangerous. I planned to change it right away but hey it was the first day I owned the truck.

Chevrolet4x4s · 02-28-2006, 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hotrodhomi

you took the words right out of my mouth

Same here

Chevrolet4x4s · 02-28-2006, 11:36 PM

I can only immagin the damage that that would do to someone if it would explode whith them in its path

02-24-2006, 10:54 AM	#1
Bad Karma Magnificent bastard Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 196	Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? I did yesterday, scared the bejeebus out of me... I was driving along, someone cut me off, I moved over a lane and punched it. What followed was the most horrible sound I have ever heard, sounded like silverware hitting the floor (only worse)... I slowed back down and pulled onto a side street. The truck was vibrating pretty bad, but all the gauges read normal, so I drove it back home, not wanting to shift out of drive or shut it off because I didn't know what broke. Got home and after crawling under and inside everything I finally found a missing fan blade. It grazed the radiator a little (no major damage) and then blew out the bottom of the fan shroud on the way out. Put on a new fan and fan clutch and all is well again (still need to order a shroud, though). It is amazing how a missing blade can throw off the balance in such a huge way. __________________ 1977 Big Block Burb

02-24-2006, 11:04 AM	#2
1Ton Registered User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Jamestown NY Posts: 731	Re: Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? You got lucky usually they take out the radiator. Glad to hear your back on the road. __________________ Support your local search and rescue team.... GET LOST! Originally Posted by DURRTY if some is good more is better too much ought to be enough........

02-24-2006, 11:20 AM	#3
Bad Karma Magnificent bastard Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 196	Re: Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? Thanks, I felt very lucky after I saw what happened. The radiator has 2 small depressions in the fins, each about the size of a fingertip. Looks like the blade just nicked it and then shot out the bottom. No leaks so far, but I'm keeping an eye on it... __________________ 1977 Big Block Burb

02-24-2006, 11:25 AM	#4
Turbo85GMC Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Medford, MA Posts: 307	Re: Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? At least it went out through the bottom and not out through your hood! __________________ '85 GMC 1500 "Friends don't let friends drive stock!"

02-24-2006, 12:19 PM	#6
swervin ervin You get what you pay for Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Cherryville, NC Posts: 4,798	Re: Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? Yes, you are very lucky it didn't rip a hole in your hood. With my luck, it would have shot straight up, after tearing up the shroud and radiator. One more reason I love my electric fans. __________________ Mike 1985 Chevy C-10

02-24-2006, 01:15 PM	#7
87 STEPPER STILL PLAYS WITH TRUX Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Melbourne, Fla. Posts: 2,764	Re: Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? In the early 80's im riddin' with my buddy in his 70.5 LT1 Z28 and he nails it at a stop light and after it hit second gear we heard the same horrible sound you did we both looked at each other and said HOLY$H!T What the Hell was that and then i saw something protruding through the hood we pulled over and saw a fan blade stuck in his hood we then opened the hood and it thru two blades the other one went thru the rad. We limped it to the next service station and removed the fan from the water pump and the hood we left the blade in the rad cuz it would of leaked worse if we removed it we filled it up and limped it back home about 20 miles stoping at several more service stations for H2O. That's why i'll never run a flex fan!! Sounds like a good reason not to run a stock fan as well! Electric is the only way to go. __________________ ~~Bruce~~ MY 87 STEPPER MY 99 2D/WD TAHOE

02-24-2006, 01:35 PM	#8
86 GMG Registered User Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Tulsa Oklahoma Posts: 943	Re: Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? Man I Was Laughing My Ass Off During Reading This B/c I Did It To A 90 Model But It Was My Fault Sence Then About Four Of Five Years Ago I Have Learned That A Fan While Not Be Ok With Just To Bolts In It (they Were Adjasint From One Another) Thought Wrong Luckily When I Pulled In The Driveway At Home A Buddy Next Store Was Out And I Reved The Engine Up At Him Thats When It Slung Off The Pump And Put A Huge Outwerd Dent In My Hood. So Glad To Here Your Experience Went As Smooth As Mine Did And Like You Said Keep An Eye On That Rad. For A While. __________________ square body trucks an addiction or an investment either way they consume all my extra time and money

02-24-2006, 01:53 PM	#9
Leinie Registered User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: USA Posts: 2,613	Re: Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? I removed the water pump from my truck -switched engines and then put the water pump on the new motor. In the process I removed the fan mounting bolts but it was siezed to the pump shaft. When I reinstalled it I forgot the bolts were still out. I'm just glad it stayed on until the test drive and didn't fly off during tuning!! Tore up the radiator real bad and I saw the pulley rolling into the ditch but never found it

02-24-2006, 02:06 PM	#10
Jebb1978 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Mesa,Az Posts: 3,713	Re: Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? I loaned my truck to my buddy right after I put the rebuilt engine in it. New Radiator and a New Fan. Installed the fan backwards! It came apart and took out the Belts, Lower Radiator Hose, Fan Shroud and Radiator. All new parts with exception of the Shroud. Better yet I had to drive 30 miles to do a roadside repair to get him moble again. Boy did I feel like a shmuck!!! __________________ 1959 GMC project

02-24-2006, 02:30 PM	#11
bigblock73 yeller Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Twin Cities Posts: 13,824	Re: Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? I was riding with a buddy of mine once, were were in a late 80's Dakota. Cruisin down the highway we both caught a glimpse of something fly up from the front area of the truck. Since neither of us actually saw what it was, and since the truck still ran normal...we kept on driving and kind of blew it off. Once we got to his place, we got out of the truck and walked to the front to see if we perhaps hit something...everything looked normal. That was until we saw a 1" x 8" (or so, never measured it...but it was a perfect rectangle) slit in the front of the hood. To this day I wonder how high that fan flew up in the air!! __________________ Jeff 73-87.com 73-87.com Facebook page 73-87 cab corner 6x9 speaker brackets for sale 67-72 cab corner speaker brackets for sale 47-54 cab corner speaker brackets for sale Last edited by bigblock73; 02-24-2006 at 02:31 PM.

02-24-2006, 03:10 PM	#12
SSC's76 No No Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Pueblo Colorado Posts: 1,781	Re: Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? I never had the pleasure of it happening to me, probably wont happen in the future since I'm all electric on my rides. It did happen to my friends 72 Chevell, then to his 72 Nova two weeks later. __________________ 1976 Custom Deluxe SWB Med FMB.3/4 Drop. Gen VI 454, Muncie HD 3 speed With Modified OE Hurst Shifter, 3.73 12 bolt, GMPP HO roller cam, Hooker headers, Performer intake with modified Q-jet, Accel distributor. Best 1/4 12.3 @108. Funnest run 19.84 @88 full 1/4 mile burn out. 1997 K1500 ext cab 5.7 stock except muffler

02-24-2006, 04:14 PM	#13
Bad Karma Magnificent bastard Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 196	Re: Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? Wow, great stories! I feel even luckier now than I did before. Just ordered a new shroud from Chevy Duty (only $20, 30 bucks cheaper than LMC!!!), she'll be back in one piece soon. __________________ 1977 Big Block Burb

02-24-2006, 05:20 PM	#15
LOHRTBT BeWarE tHe eViL CrAnkTOe! Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Yukon, OK Posts: 3,605	Re: Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? lol...saw it happen to my buddies S10...blew 3 holes in the hood, destroyed the shroud, cut all the belts, cut the rad hose and destroyed his radiator!! It did more damage than the truck was worth! __________________ ~Dave~ You can call me Mike, Mike Oxlong - 1986 Chevy SWB - Stock for now - *1986 Chevy Custom SWB* *Stolen 6/26/05* - 1985 Chevy SWB SOLD - 1999 T/A Some mods www.cardomain.com/id/ramairdave AIM Screenname - Jester84

02-24-2006, 05:50 PM	#16
OJ1988 Just a car guy Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Washington, IN Posts: 991	Re: Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? My cousin lost one blade off his flex fan. About that time, I read in a magazine that they had recalled 2 models of them, and his was one.

02-24-2006, 06:40 PM	#17
nwmod39 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: spokane, washington Posts: 302	Re: Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? I have a buddy that was working on the timing in his circle track car and had the fan come apart. it took the whole index finger and the top knuckle to the tip on his middle finger. i would always flip him **** about it until i was doing the same thing when the whole fan came off the pump. the only thing that save my but was the tin fan shroud that i had used. stuck the blade right through it and stopped while i was leaning down toward the marks with my left hand and head while revving it with my right hand. talk about something that really gets you heart going. i think it was well over a half an hour before i calmed down.



Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.

02-24-2006, 11:22 PM	#19
Bowed Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: where it's hot Posts: 1,059	Re: Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? When I was a kid the guy I was working for sent me on an errand in his friends 57 chevy stepside . It was a straight 6 banger with stick shift and Well you know how kid's are . I had it in second gear and screaming right up to the top when the fan sheared off and went thru the radiator . The owner was pi$$ed . . .

02-25-2006, 12:00 AM	#20
MACO Registered User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: British Columbia CANADA Posts: 118	Re: Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? The day I brought my 71 c20 home the first thing the fan decided to do was come apart and punch a hole in the hood. It was one of those original GM flex fans that are so dangerous. I planned to change it right away but hey it was the first day I owned the truck. __________________ 1969 C20 Customer Camper CST, 396, TH400, Factory A/C, Olive Green.

02-28-2006, 11:36 PM	#22
Chevrolet4x4s Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: WV Posts: 227	Re: Anyone ever lost a fan blade before? I can only immagin the damage that that would do to someone if it would explode whith them in its path __________________ 1993 K1500 350 5 speed 1985 K10 Silverado Vortec 406 5 speed (in body shop) "I been drivin' this '85 pickup truck Them buddies of mine call it a bucket of rust She's a little beat up but she still runs like the wind Yeah, kinda like me I been banged and bruisedBeen around the block a time or two But I'm runnin' like new goin' places I never been No, I ain't broke I'm just broken in" 1963 Dodge Townwagon(its amazng what 30 years and zero miles will do to a vehicle ) Member#20327

Register or Log In To remove these advertisements.